This can be DONE

Hello, my name is Rith Phyna. Chances are if you’re reading this article, you’re mostly likely from the University of Cambodia, and I am talking to you through this article as a fellow schoolmate. First thing’s ﬁrst, you’ve found yourself a fantastic school and learning opportunity. Shall we move on to the main course?

I am writing this article after I passed a management trainee program called “ANZ Royal Young Banker Program,” to share my experience. This program essentially is a development program where can-didates will go through structured job rotation across different core functions of the bank before assuming a permanent role. Basically, you get to learn a lot. To me as a freshly graduated student, it marks an important career milestone.

To be fair, the process of selection is not exactly easy, but as I’m certain you probably have heard by now: nothing is impossible with clear goals and commitment. With enough hard work and dedication, trust me when I say there is nothing you cannot accomplish. However, I’m not here to tell you these things; that you already know. Instead, I want to talk about something more important, I want to talk about the ground where you and me as students ﬂourished. Where the ﬁrst step of our journey to success truly begins. I want to talk about our university.

I passed my high school diploma with average grades, and to be frank, I always took education for granted, until I got into university. The new competitive, yet friendly, environment literally changed my per-spective on life. When almost all of your lecturers and seniors are so successful, you get the urge to strive to achieve the same result. They are essentially telling you, “This can be done”. Furthermore, I personally think the most important aspect of school are the people inside. I’m talking about friends. The more you make, the easier your school life is. Beyond getting help with the work you can’t accomplish on your own; when you come to school regularly every weekday, school in a way is your second home, and your friends become your siblings from another parent. Our Associate Dean, Ms. Gina V. Lopez, and I’m sure I’m representing many others from the College of Management when I say this, is like a second mother to us.

Another obvious fact that many of us already know, is that experience in various programs and social activities can help you advance your academic/career path. What I’d like to point out is that you don’t need to go far to ﬁnd those opportunities. They are right around the corner, you just need to keep your eyes and mind open. School, in my opinion, not only offers you those crucial opportunities, but can also facilitate stu-dents to get the most relevant and joyful experiences. I myself got a chance to experience the stock exchange through my friends in the same college.

At the end of the day, the thing I’d like to point out is having a goal does not necessarily mean you have to constantly worry about it. Academic life can be the most joyful period of life one could have. So
I suggest that you enjoy it and make it worth your while. Make friends, participate, be sociable, and learn from your friends and seniors. I sure did, and I wouldn’t be able to achieve this career milestone without the support from my family, friends, and the University of Cambodia.